Means for radio communication



Sept. 16,1941. A. N. RE BORI ETAL 2,255,397

MEANS FOR RADIO COMMUNICATION iled Dec. 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 p-16,19 1. 7 A.N.REB'OR1 HAL 2,255,897 MEANS FOR RADIO COMMUNICATION IFiled Dec. 24,- 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fzwe'riiita Mew/V Reborn,Jameafflwme,

Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR RADIOCOMIWUNICATION Andrew N. Reborl and James P. Hume, Chicago, 111.;said'Hume assignor to said Rebori Application Deccmber24,'1937, SerialNo. 181,570

1 Claim.

This invention relates to communication systems employing radiotransmitting and receiving apparatus, andis characterized as employingreceiving apparatus consisting of small self-contained portable unitsadapted to be 'carried on the person of the user, either on the wrist orin a pocket, in substantially the manner that ing announcements whichmay be audible to the,

user of the receiving apparatus when the-receiving phone of his set isplaced close to his ear. This invention may also be employed for policeand military uses as well as for entertainment purposes, but theembodiment of the invention here illustrated is one which isparticularly adapted for use as a time announcing system.

This form of the invention contemplates the establishment at variouslocalities, such as for instance, in each of the major cities throughoutthe United States or other countries of the world. broadcasting stationshaving a particular as signed wave frequency which may become and beknown as the time telling radio frequency. Such stations can be placedat various locations which may be spaced one from the other more or lessdepending upon the sending strength of the particular broadcastingstations involved.

In some instances, in order to make possible an audible reception withthe relatively insensitive receiving various sending stations may bescattered throughout the locations of a single city and may perhaps belocated in the street in housings provided on posts such like. servewell for systems in any particular city for the distribution ofcommunications to the police, fire departments, military oilicers andother persons of official capacity.v

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide acommunicating system of the type referred to and to further'provideradio transmitting and receiving apparatus which is small, compact,portable and self-contained and which is sufficiently sensitive toreceive the intended radio communications and yet which is capable ofbeing carried on the wrist or in the user's pocket in the manner nowcommon with watches.

This invention contemplates radio receiving units which employ crystaldetectors as well as those which employ one or more detecting andamplifying tubes. It is further contemplated that the receivingapparatus employed be equipped with, either, suitable means to serve asan antenna with a suitable ground connection, or a loop which will notnecessitate the establishment of a ground connection for the receptionof the radio signals. Due to the reduced strength of the signalresulting from the I use of a loop as compared to that of an antennaapparatus, it is contemplated that as lamp posts, and the! v Thistype'of broadcasting unit will also With broadcasting stations soestablished and functioning throughout the cities of the world, thisinvention next contemplates the wide distribution of radio receivingapparatus of a very. small self-contained, portable type which will besufliciently sensitive to receivethe radio communications emanating fromat, least one of the various broadcasting stations without requiring anylarge, cumbersome or expensive eguipment but rather only a compact andnice appearing device which in size and character, will be comparable tothat of a watch adapted to be carried either on the wrist or in thepocket in the manner now common with such time pieces.

and ground connection, in some instances, it will be desirable toutilize with a loop. a detector and amplifying tube instead of a crystaldetector as in this way the strength of the signal may be increased tothe point of providing a clearly audible signal. On the other hand, ininstances where the broadcasting station has sufliclent strength and issufficiently close at hand, satisfactory and audible signals may bereceived with a loop in conjunction with a crystal detector withoutrequiring the necessity of ground connections or amplifying anddetecting tubes and the attendant battery or batteries. However, variouscombinations of these elements are contemplated for the presentinvention andccrtain illustrations thereof are hereinafter disclosedmerely by way of example. I

As applied to a device adapted to be mounted on the wrist of the user,it is also an object of this invention to provide means constituting asuitable antenna constructed into the band supporting the apparatus onthe wrist. This antenna means may-serve alone or it may serve throughits contact with the body of the user,

as means for connecting the body or the user with the receivingapparatus whereby the user's;

body may serve as additional antenna means.

This invention will be more clearly understood by referring to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a radio receiving apparatusconstructed in accordance with this invention and adapted to be mountedon the wrist of the user in-a manner similar to the mounting of wristwatches;

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram showing the hookup for the receiving setshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a I modified form of theinvention, adapted to be so as .to'iorm the central mounted on the wristof the user, which has means for contacting the body of the user wherebythe body of the user serves in the capacity or an antenna and which alsohas a wire establish Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged perspective viewsshowing the exterior or the reel illustrated in Figure 4, andparticularly the means for accommodating the end of the ground wire;

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram showing the hookup for the receivingapparatus illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified form of theinvention which is constructed in size and shape like a mans pocketwatch and chain, and with which a detecting tube is employed togetherwith the necessary batteries for the detecting tube.

Figure 9 is a wiring diagram showing the hookup for the receivingapparatus illustrated in Fi ure 8;

Figure 10 is an elevational view of a type 01 transmitting station whichmay be placed on the street in the practice or this invention and whichmay be in the form of a lampor other street post of the customary ingfor the necessary mechanism and an aerial preferably adjacent the topthereof.

yp having a hous- By referring to Figures 1 and 201 the drawings it willbe noted that the form of theinvention here illustrated employs areceiving apparatus which is very simple in principle and construetionand which consists of a loop I. having one of its ends ll connected to acrystal detector I2.

The detector I2 is in turn connected to an ear 7 phone IS, the otherterminal or which is connected to the opposite end ll of the loop.Extending across the ends of the loop is a variable condenser I! whichmay be utiliredior tuning the receiving set to the particular frequencydesired. Further, a condenser II is preferably employed across the earphone to permit the passage of current of radio frequency.

of the invention is preferably embodied in a This .iorm

device constructed somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 1 wherebythesize and shape or an ordinary wrist watch.

. In the form of invention illustrated in Figure l the set comprises ahousing 20 which may be of insulating material such as any ofv the knownmolding compounds orit may beof metal lined with a suitable insulatingmaterial. As illusit is of substantially trated this casing ispreferably or the arched curved shape so as to conform to the contour ofthe wrist-oi the wearer and is equipped at each end with a holdingbracket 22.

-In this -iforln of the invention a loop is provided as a part of theband or strap which serves to hold the device on the wrist'of the wearerand as here illustrated this band comprises an ins'uiat ing strip 23'and a plurality of o! a suitable wire 23 which are dispoud in suchmanner through the holes ll in the bracket g} as to constitute a loopantenna. end of the deviceds hinged or otherwise unremovably the bracket22 at the; other reii'iovable-bav any suitable connection or lhe wire 23originates in the casing through the file bracket I 2 at one secured tothe casing a! at whereas 1 32 for adjustable movement on the bearing 33and operable by means of the handle 34. It will be noted that this stemand handle are placed on the casing at the location which corresponds tothe location on watches usually occupied by the customary winding stem.In this particular illustration however, the handle would be movedaxially in and out to eflfect the desired adjustment of the condenserinstead of being rotated in the manner of winding a watch.

Also within the casing is a fixed crystal detector 35 having suitableterminals 36 and 31 and in addition, a small by-pass condenser 38adapted to be. connected across the terminals. of the ear phone. The earphone is provided of usual construction and consists of a magnets l0 anda pair of solenoids ll mounted substantially as illustrated in thedrawings. Inside or the casing there is provided a ridge 4! on which asuitable diaphragm is mounted-in such position that it may be influencedby the solenoids and thus form therewith an earphone.

A cover member is preferably provided for the,

casing 20 which may be of any suitable material and which has a rim 5|on the under surface thereof for engagement with the edge whereby thesame is tightly oi the phone diaphragm held when the cover is closed.This cover may be provided with pleasing design preferably constructedto include holes 52 or other openings which will permit a bettertransmission of the sound from the diaphragm to the outside of thedevice. 7 a

With a device of this kind it is contemplated that various degrees oftuning may be permitted according to the needs oi. the particular casebut in the interest oi making the device small and compact, it will bedesirable in many instances to so construct the receiving mechanism thatit will be more or less permanently tuned to a predetermined frequencywhereby only a minor corrective adjustment will be required by a trimmercondenser I5. It will of course be understood that the parts shown inthe housing 20 will be suitably connected by wires to complete thehookup in the manner represented by the wiring diagram in Figure 2.

Inasmuch as this form of the invention is pro- 'vided with a loop andutilizes a crystal detector, it will be necessary that the signalsreceived be quite strong in order that they may be heard. It greaterstrength is required in any particular system it is contemplated thatadditional broadcasting outlets may be established throu hout variouslocations in the city, broadcasting stations of the type now in commonuse or through the instrumentality of devices connected to a streetposts or similar means, in Figure 10; This form oi. the invention willbe particularly desirable in cases where the communicating system isemployed for police, fire,

military and other uses.

. Referring now to the form of invention illustrated in Figure 3, itwill be noted that a case Cl is provided preferably of insulatingmaterial pair of horse shoe either through central station andlocated inlike that illustrated manner similar to the lustrated in Figures 4 to 6inclusive, on the band which may be of any desired shape. In thisinstance the device is" also shown as being adapted to be mounted on thewrist of the user in the manner of a wrist watch and as here shown maybe round in shape, rather than rectangular. Here again the case may beof any suitable material such as molded insulating compounds or it maybe of metal suitably lined or otherwise provided with the necessaryinsulation. When the case is made of an insulating material as here 11-lustrated, it may be provided with a ring 6| also of insulating materialand of less heighth than the side wall of the casing and of lessdiameter so as to provide an annular space 52 which is occupied by acoil composed of a number of turns of very small wire providing a tuningcoil 64 of the type illustrated in Figure 7. The ring H is preferablyprovided with a slot 5 through which is exposed a portion of the wiresof the coil 64 which may be stripped bare at the location of the slotsoas to, enable a good electric contact to be made therewith. A contactmember 66 is provided mounted on a, stem 01' which stem is pivotallymounted in the side wall of the casing in the manner shown. The stem 61is provided with a turning knob 60 constructed and located in a windingstem of the usual type of wrist watch.

The stem 01 is insulated from the adjacent wires at the place where thestem passes through the annular space 02. This construction provides 80,on the under side of the wrist or in other words, the side opposite fromthat on which the watch-like receiving device is worn.

This mechanism comprises a cylindrical housing 90 having a central pivotIII" and a reel 92 mounted thereon. The central pivot and reel areso-constructed as to provide a space93 adjacent the hub which isprovided with a torsional spring 94 whereby the reel may automaticallyrewind the ground connecting wire.

Mounted on the reel is a length of fine wire 04" which has its inner endelectrically connected at the location of the hub to a metallic plate 95on the upper surface of the reel. A brush Siisin engagement with theplate 95 whereby an electric connection is maintained between the brushand the ground wire while the reel is free to rotate. The brush 96 isconnected to a terminal 81 which is connected by a suitable wire 98disposed in the band 80 to the proper mechanism mounted on the interior"of the casing 00, all in accordance with the wiring diagram shown inFigure 7.

As shown in Figures 5 and6, the reel casing 00 I which is preferablyformed of insulating material has an outlet I00 provided with a slotIII. This outlet provides a housing for the terminal member I02 whichhas a handle I 03 and a mea satisfactory tuning adjustment due to thefact that the oscillation of the stem 61 by mean of the knob 68 causesthe deflected end of the contact member 66 to move in engagement withthe bare portions of the wires of the coil 64.

Also mounted in the casing are magnets 10 and solenoids II constitutingthe necessary elements of an ear phone which are adapted to cooperatewith a disk which will be supported on the upper edge of the ring GIwith its under surface in operative association with the poles of thesolenoids I I.

The'casing of this device is adapted to be closed by a cover I2 whichmay be held thereon by screw threads or any other suitable form ofattachment. This cover serves to engage the upper edge of the disk atthe location of the ring 6| so as to hold the same in the manner commonin ear phone construction. This cover is also provided with suitabledecorations preferably including opening I3 through which the soundwaves may more readily pass.

This device is held on the wrist by means of a suitable strap or band80of any suitable construction but which is preferably unr'emovablyconnected at one end of the device and removably connected at the other.This construction enables the deviceto be readily applied to and removedfrom the wrist of the user. In this case the band 80 may be-made up of aplurality of wires properlyconnected through the connector II withthe-interior of the casing so as to form an antenna. In some instanceshowever, it may be desirable to increase the antenna action byadditionally employing the body of the user which can be brought intoconnection by contact between the antenna wires of the band 80 and thewrist of the wearer. Where an antenna is employed either with or withoutthe body of the wearerv being connected, it may' be desirable wire it ispreferable to have an extensible ground wire which may be mounted in themanner 11- tallic prong or point I04 which is in electrical contact withthe ground wire 94'. When the reel winds in the ground wire, the end I02is caused to occupy the space within the outlet member I00 with thehandle I03 disposed in the slot IOI in the manner illustrated in Figure5. This completely houses the prong I04 and avoids the liability of theuser being inadvertently pricked thereby.

When it is desired to make a ground connection it is merely necessary tograsp the handle I 03 and pull the same out of the outlet housing so asto unwind the reel and place the same in engagement with a suitablegroundconnection to complete the circuit in'the usual manner. In thisoperation the connection need only be made temporarily during the timethat the time I message or other communication is being received. Here,like in the other modification some adjustment or tuning is possiblethrough the coil 64 and the tuning device having the contact 66 incontact with the coils.

Mounted within the casing 60 is also a fixed crystal detector IIO whichis connected by suitable wires to one of the poles of the ear phone andalso to the coil 64 and an aerial connection in the manner illustratedin the wiring diagram of Figure 7. There is also a suitable wire whichconnects the opposite-end of the ear phone to the adjustable contact-66.

From the above description it will be clear will, receive radiocommunications in the mariner described. Whereas this illustrationshowsan antenna which may also include the body of the user together'withaground connection, it

is apparent that this form of invention may alsobe employed with a loopof the type illustrated in connection with the modification in Figure 1in those cases where the signal received is of sufllcient strength andintensity to justify the same.

A still further modification of the invention is represented in Figures8 and 9, which consists of a housing I20 mounted on one end of theflexibleel'ement III and a second housing I22,

; 4 mounted on the opposite end of said flexible element I2I. This,device is preferably constructed of size and shape to resemble anordinary vest pocket watch and chain together with some a device on theother end-of the watchchain. 3 Whereas the receiving apparatus hereillustrated may be constructed in. the manner already illustrated inFigures 1 and- 3, respectively, here shown as employing a receiving sethaving a detector tube instead of a fixed crystal detector. In this wayamplification can be obtained so as to strengthen the signal receivedwith an ordinary loop. This ,7 form of the invention L is desirable inthose cases where aground conf nection is either impracticable,undesirable, or

cannot be made.

The casing I22 comprises a rectangular frame piece I23- of insulatingmaterial on which is mounted a plurality of turns of fine wire I24,constituting ;a loop. Mounted' within the rectangular frame and housedtherein by insulating wall pieces are a plurality of batteries, I25 andI26 and a small electronic tube I21. The battery I25 is the customary"A" battery which serves to illuminate the electronic tube I21 andbattery I26 is the customary 3" battery for the receiving set. Thisportion of the apparatus including the loop is suitably connectedthrough very fine insulated wires which collectively form the flexibleconnection or chain-like element I2I which is attached at its other endto a bail I28 on the other portion I20 of the device. The portion. I20of the device is somewhat itis tain transmitting mechanism and may, ifdesired, include a street lamp, trafiic light or other mechanism usuallycarried by posts of this type.

On the upper portion there may be suitable insulating supports I55constituting a mounting for the conducting element I56 which will serveas a transmitting antenna for the purpose herein explained.

From the above description it will be apparent that the applicants haveprovided various types of radio receiving equipment which are portable,compact and self-contained and which can be carriedby the user in amanner substantially I similar to the manner of carrying watches, thatis to say, either on the wrist or in the vest or other pockets of theuser's clothes.

This invention enables forthe first time, the construction of radioreceiving equipment in a neat, nice-appearing, compact form whereby thesame may enter thefleld of jewelry "and peg sonal articles which may beworn or carried on the person. In other words, aside from the highlyuseful function of this type of device it is intended that the same beso constructed that the similar to that previously described inconnection with the other modifications of the invention in that itincludes an adjustable condenser Ill con sisting of two telescopicmetallic tubes one of which is adjustable by connection to the slidablestem Ill which passes through a slide bearing provided in the sidewall01- thecasing ofthe device I32. Casing I32 is preferably made ofinsulating material and also serves as a housingforthe permanent magnetsI83 and solenoids I34 forthe ear phone. This device also includes acondenser I" adapted to be connected across L the ear phones and a gridleak I31 which may be mounted in either thefiousing I32 of the portionI20. or within the portion I22 according to the circumstances of theparticular case. As here illustrated, the grid leak is mounted in thehousing I22 at a location adjacent the acorn tube. and as illustrated,in the wiring diagram 'of Fig.l

ure 9. To. complete the ear phone,-a disl; is provided in the usualmanner and held in place on the top edge of a ledge of the casing I22 bythe cover for the casing. The sou'nd'dislr'is so antenna means.

' mounted as to be in operative association with the poles of solenoidsI34. The cover-may be constructed as illustrated in Figure 8, having asurface preferably provided "with holes Illl' therein for assisting theoutward. passage of the sound waves and having a flange I which may be Iscrew threaded or otherwise secured to the caing I32. The side wall ofthe casing l22 may preferably be opened so-as to readily-insert new 8"and B batterleswhen necessary.

By referring specifically to Figure 10, it is noted that thetransmitting mechanism may consist of a suitable post Ill having ahousing "I,

located thereon which my house suitable radio transmitting mechanism,and also a housing. I52

receiving sets referred to will be items of highly pleasing appearancewhich are so compact and so small that their use will be widely acceptedfor the purposes intended.

This inventionis not to be limited by the particular illustrations heregiven nor by the particular wiring diagrams illustrated as it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention here disclosed.Accordingly, the forms of the invention disclosed and illustrated are tobe considered as merely illustrative and the limitations of .theinvention are to be determined only from the appended claim.

m the device illustrated in Figure 8, it is to be understood that theflexible connecting ele-' ment I2I may also be provided with suitablewires constituting an antenna for the receiving device, which antennamay-or may not have electrical connection with the hand of the user soas to include the body of the user as a part of the We claim: i a Acomplete, self-contained and portable radio receiving device adapted tobe attached to and completely carried on the wrist of the user, .andcomprising a housing constructed and shaped to beheld on the 'wrist,earphone means, detecting means and tuning means mountedin said bymovement of his arm, may lift said device to his ear so that relativelyweak sound waves adjacent the upper end which may include .cerj renderedaudible to said u'sen.

emanating from said earphone means may be ANDREW N; mom.

JAMES P. HUME.

